Containers



D. WAINBERG CONTAINERS Filed ma 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

June 29, 1965 D. WAINBERG 3,191,845

CONTAINERS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR June 29, 1965 n.WAINBERG 3,191,845

CONTAINERS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-$heet a INVENTOR.

June 29, 1965 D. WAINBERG 3,191,845

CONTAINERS Filed May 13, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

D. WAINBERG June 29, 1965 CONTAINERS 5 heets-Sheet 5 Filed May 13, 1963T i 5 63 l FIG. l2

fid States ate* Filed May 13, 1963, Ser. No. 279,824 3 Claims. (Cl.229-32) The invention relates to improvements in containers as describedin the present specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel features of constructionas pointedout broadly and specifically in the claims for noveltyfollowing a description containing an explanation in detail ofacceptable forms of the invention.

In the past, the manufacture of cartons and other containers have beenconstructed with many different types of interlocking flaps forconnecting the end and side walls together and to form the necessarycorners. This has been accomplished by the formation of slits eitherthrough the end walls or the side walls and the formation of hook-likemembers or projecting lugs emanating from locking flaps that form partof the end walls or the side walls, the slits or slots and the lockingflaps being so shaped that when the container is being folded they willslidably engage with one another, and then by pull- 7 p,

ing the connecting walls outwardly the hook-like members will be broughtout of alignment from the slotted portions and thereby presumbly beprevented from unlocking themselves or disengaging with the slits of theadjacent wall. In certain instances, special tools have been designedand used for effecting the hooking operations.

Although, to a certain extent, such containers are satisfactory and arewidely used and are believed to be better than fastening the corners byadhesive, stapling and the like, they are inadequate, inasmuch as theyare easily pulled apart and do not provide the necessary strength at thecorners and proper rigidity and stifi'nessto the wall structure,consequently when contents are inserted l in the container, the veryweight of the contents there-in and in the handling of the. containerwill effect a force against the wall structure, thereby causing thewalls to have the tendency of expanding, bulging or collapsing outwardlyand thus causing a pull. at the corners of the container, which in turn,will often cause the dislodgernent of the hook members from their hookedpositions with the slits or slots formed in the adjacent walls, andconsequently resultin the dislocation of the corners of the container,the collapsing of the walls, and the spilling orthe possible destructionof the contents.

Furthermore such containers have weakened corners and walls that aremore pliant to force and pressure due to their interlocking structures,and consequently are subjected to torsional twisting of the containersand infirmness of their wall structures.

It is therefore the purpose of this invention to eliminate such andother objectionable features that have been found in former containersand simultaneously to increase the strength of the wall structure andpositive locking of their adjacent walls, as well as other features thatwill be discernible. in the description together with the accompanyingdrawings. 7

Among the objects of the invention is to devise a container that willhave the proper rigidity in both the longitudinal and lateral directionsand thus minimize any torsional twisting of the container.

Another object of the invention is to devise a means whereby the weightof the contents of the container will have the force, thus created,proportionately distributed throughout the wall structure of thecontainer andwhich is effected by the positive locking of the adjoiningwalls of the structure together in such a way that practically nolatitude is permitted of any freedom of movement in the transverse,vertical or off the vertical directions of the interlocking means thatlock the adjacent walls to- 5 gether and form the corners for thecontainers.

Still a further object of the invention is to furnish a container withwall interlocking means that will assure a close upright abutment of thelocked walls with the corner formations of the container for stiffeningthe container in all directions, and avoid the saggy look or distor tedappearance of the container which is so often noticeable in containersin which the contents thereof have caused a force, pressure or a dragagainst or on the walls, and it may be furtherapparent when filledcontainers are placed on top of each other.

-. A further object of the invention is to construct a container from ablank, with the minimum waste of material, that will be easy to assembleeither by mechanical or manual means and in which the walls will haveintegral self locking means for fastening the adjacent walls to oneanother.

A still further object of the invention is to make a container that willbe capable of withstanding reasonable pressures from any direction andmaintain its uniform 5 configuration at all times when once assembledand in its locked position.

Another object of the invention is to devise a locking means forcontainers that will form an integral part thereof and which will beequally adaptable to be included in all types of containerconfigurations and wherever adjacent walls are required to be joinedtogether regardless of their size or shape.

Still a further object of the invention is to devise a container inwhich no adhesive or other securing means need be added either to theblank or in the assembly of the container for adding strength to thestructure, as has been done in the past, but therein place effect thenecessary strength and positive locking of the walls together, throughthe particular structure of the interlocking means and cornerconnections of the container and which form an integral part of theblank from which the container is assembled.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description ofthe disclosures of the invention and the illustrations thereof.

In the drawings: a FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the containerillustrating the interlocking units in locked position to form thecorners and joinders of the wall sections.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the container is formed.7

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the position of theoffset portion and locking lip of a locking flap when inserted throughthe slit of an adjacent wall and in self locking position.

FIGUREA is a fragmentary plan view of one end portion of the containerand illustrating the interlock-ing of the locking flaps emanating fromthe side walls with an end wall. 7 A

- FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the containerillustrating one locking flap before its locking position with the endwall and the other lockin-g flap after its locking position with the endwall.

FIGURE 6 is a planview of a blank for a modified form of containerhaving corner leak proof locking flaps.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the modified form of container as madefrom the blank illustrated in FIG- URE 6. p

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan v iew of one corner of theblank as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the FIGURE ll is a planview of the modification of the container as illustrated in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a further modification of a pre-cut blank.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the container formed from the pre-cutblank as illustrated in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the container,as shown in FIGURE 13, and illustrating one looking flap before itslocking position with the end wall and the other locking flap after itlocked position with the end wall.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the variousfigures.

The present invention pertains to interlocking units for connecting andjoining adjacent walls of a container so that they will positively lockto one another and at the same time add to the rigidity of the wallstructure. This is accomplished by eliminating any play of the lockingflaps when insertedin their respective slits, as occurs in other typesof containers formed from pre-cut blanks and well known in the past art,with the consequent slackness or looseness to the abutting corner wallsof the container.

This invention includes the formation of locking flaps that formintegral extensions from certain of the walls of the container and areprovided with integral bendable or foldable lips or flanges that are setat any desired angle or arranged in a vertical, off the vertical,horizontal or off the horizontal directions, all in accordance withdesign and style of container that is desired or required, and inaccordance with the shape of the slits in which the locking lips orflanges, in their folded positions, are inserted for interlocking thewalls together.

Referring to the drawings, the container, as indicated by numeral 15 andillustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, is formed by the blank 16 and has thebottom wall 17, the side walls 18 and 19, the end walls 20 and 21, andthe top wall or cover 22. The side walls 18 and 19 have the extension orlocking flaps 23 and 24 and which are integral therewith, and areapproximately of the same height.

Each of the locking flaps is formed with an offset or protruding portion25 in its upper and lateral portion and from which projects downwardlythe bendable locking lip or tongue 26 terminating short of the lowertransverse edge of the locking flap. This locking lip is creased at 27,where it projects from the offset or protruding portion, so that it maybe folded inwardly to abut the inner face of the offset or protrudingportion. The locking flap forms one part of the interlocking means andalso a corner 28 of the container.

The end walls 20 and 21 have the transverse bendable flaps or flanges 29extending along their top portions and have the vertical slits or slots30 and 31 made in their upper portions and suitably spaced from theirouter vertical edges and terminating considerably short from theirjoinder crease lines with the bottom wall. These slits or slot-s extendupwardly into the transverse flaps 29 at an offset angle to form thecontinuation of the approximate vertical slits into angular slits 32 inorder to receive the chamfered edges 33 of the locking flaps 23 and 24.This arrangement of the slits forms the other part of the interlockingmeans.

It will be noted that the length of the offset portion and locking lipof the locking flap is considerably longer than the length of the slitportion that is formed in the end wall, and this is for the purpose ofallowing the locking lip to project within the end wall well beyond thelower termination of the slit in its extended positions.

When the upright walls are to be joined and locked together, the lockingflaps of the side walls are folded inwardly and their respective lockinglips are folded inwardly to abut the inner faces of the offset orprotruding portions of the locking flaps. The bendable transverse flapsor flanges are placed in vertical alignment with the upright end wallsso that each of the common slits formed in the transverse flaps will bein vertical alignment.

The folded locking flaps are simply directed into and through the commonslits of the transverse flaps and the end walls by bringing the wallsinto an upright position, thus allowing the offset or protrudingportions and the folded locking lips to enter and engage with the innerfaces of the end walls. The locking lips are automatically released fromtheir folded abutment with the offset portiones and unfold themselves oftheir own volition and pliancy, and as these locking lips extend belowthe lower extremities of the slits and the offset or protruding portionsare in the contiguous back to back engagement with the inner faces ofthe end walls, there is positive interlocking of the side and end wallstogether with little or no lateral or vertical movement possible andconsequently preventing any displacement of the locking units from theirlocked positions.

The material used for making the blanks for the containersare of coursediversified such as, stiff cardboard, pasteboard, other pulp material,plastic, aluminum, composite materials and others that lend themselvesto be made from a blank that may be foldable to form the requiredconfigurations of containers and the adaptability of the interlockingmeans.

A modified form of container is illustrated in FIG- URES 7 to 9 andconsists of the usual bottom wall 34, side walls 35 and 36, end walls 37and 38, and the top wall or cover 39. The end walls and the side wallsare integrally connected with one another by the corner locking flaps40, each locking flap having a protruding or offset portion 41 which isformed with an extension in the shape of a locking lip 42 which iscreased at 43 from the protruding portion or offset that it may be bentrearwardly to abut the inner face of the protruding portion.

The inner or lower inner end of the locking flap, beyond the crease lineof the locking lip, is provided with a plait or gore 44 which isintegrally connected with the lateral flap 45 of the end wall. The endwalls are both provided with the integral vertical lateral flaps 45 atthe corners, which are formed with the integral locking flaps of theside Walls. The end walls have similar shaped slits or slots 46 to thoseshown in FIGURES 1 to 6, and extend into the bendable flaps or flanges47 for the purpose of receiving the protruding portions and locking lipsof the locking flaps 40, and thus complete the interlocking of the endand side walls, as previously described.

In this way leak proof corners are provided for the container, and thisis accomplished through the co ordination of the movements of the plaitsor gores 44, the vertical lateral flaps 45 and the locking flaps, whenthe protruding portions and the locking lips of the locking flaps areinserted in the slits of the end walls.

In this way the container is provided with reinforced leak proof cornersand positive interlocking of the end and side walls.

Another application of the interlocking means for containers isillustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11. This container is formed of the bottomwall 48, and the side walls 49 and the end walls 50. The side walls areprovided with lateral angular shaped locking flaps 51 and 52, thelateral flaps 51 having angular shaped slits or slots 53, suchas in theformation of a right angle, and forming one portion of the interlockingmeans.

The other angular shaped locking flaps 52 have protruding or offsetportions 54 and accompanying bendable locking lips 55, similarlyconstructed as those previously described, and forming the otherportions of the interlocking means. 7

The protruding portions and the accompanying locking lips of the lockingflaps 52 are inserted in the slits of the locking flaps 51 and interlocktherein, in a similar manner as hereinbefore described. In this type ofconstruction, the interlocked flaps form outer end walls while the endwalls 50 form the inner walls of the container.

In FIGURES 12, 13 and 14, another adaptation of the invention is shown,in which the angle and disposition of the locking lips of flanges of thelocking flaps are arranged at a different angle to those alreadydescribed.

The general structure of the pre-cut blank 56 and the container 57 thatis formed therefrom is somewhat similar to that already described, withthe exception that the locking flaps 58, that integrally extendoutwardly from the side walls 59, have the protruding portions 60provided with the integrally extending flanges or lips 61 that arefoldable either inwardly or outwardly, as the case may be, at 62 fromthe protruding portions 60.

These extending bendable or foldable flanges or lips 61 have the lockingshoulders 63 and the central tongues '64 and are adapted to be inserted,in their folded positions, in the slits 65 formed in the adjacent endwalls, so that the shoulders will lock themselves with the edges of theslits and the tongue 64 will be located between the outer faces of theend walls and the inner faces of the locking flaps.

Furthermore it will be noted that when the side walls are in an uprightposition and the locking flaps are engaged with the end walls, thelocking lips or flanges are arranged in vertical locking positions inthe interlocking of the end and side Walls together. 1

It must also be noted that the interlocking flaps and bendable lockinglips are not necessarily confined to the side wall structure, but couldform a part of the end wall structure, or the locking flaps themselvesmay be interlocked with one another to form a wall.

Furthermore, the exact location of the interlocking means forsecurernent of the adjacent Walls could be arranged from the top, thebottom, the central portions or the sides of the end walls or the sidewalls with only slight modifications or ramifications.

Since certain changes may be made in the above structures and difierentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In containers, a container formed of a bottom wall and upright walls,certain of said upright walls having locking slits therethrough, lockingflaps articulating from the ends of certain of said upright walls, saidlocking flaps having outer upper corners and slitted and creasedportions forming outer lower corners with the accompanying areas of thelocking flaps incorporating the outer upper corners and the outer lowercorners and having their outer edges in alignment juncture with theouter edges of said outer upper and lower corners, said outer lowercorners adapted to be folded at their crease lines to be in back to backpositions With said locking flaps for the insertion oflsaid lockingflaps into and through the locking slits formed'in the adjacent wallsand to interlock therewith and to complete the 'securement of theupright walls to one another.

2. In containers, a container formed of a bottom wall and upright walls,certain of said upright walls having locking slits extendingtherethrough, locking flaps articulating from the ends of certain ofsaid other up right Walls, each of said locking flaps having an outerupper corner and an outer'lower portion which is vertically' split andtransversely creased to form an outer lower corner capable of being bentback for permitting the introduction of said locking flap into andthrough a slit formed in the adjacent upright wall, said outer lowerportion being of an area smaller than the area of the locking flapincorporating the outer upper corner and the outer lower corner which isprojected through the slit formed in the adjacent wall and to locktherewith and complete the formation of a corner of saidcontainer.

3. In containers, a container formed of a bottom wall, side walls andend walls, said end walls having slits extending therethrough, foldablelocking flaps extending therethrough, foldable locking flaps projectingfrom the ends of said side walls and integral therewith, each of saidlocking flaps having a non-bendable outer upper corner and a bendableouter lower corner, the latter being formed by the vertical splittingand transverse creasing of the outer lower portion of said locking flapso as to form a locking lip out of said outer lower corner and of anarea smaller than the area of the portion of the locking flap that is tobe inserted into and through a slit formed in an adjacent upright walland adapted to interlock therewith and complete a corner of saidcontainer.

References Cited by the Examiner FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

1. IN CONTAINERS, A CONTAINER FORMED OF A BOTTOM WALL AND UPRIGHT WALLS,CERTAIN OF SAID UPRIGHT WALLS HAVING LOCKING SLITS THERETHROUGH, LOCKINGFLAPS ARTICULATING FROM THE ENDS OF CERTAIN OF SAID UPRIGHT WALLS, SAIDLOCKING FLAPS HAVING OUTER UPPER CORNERS AND SLITTED AND CREASEDPORTIONS FORMING OUTER LOWER CORNERS WITH THE ACCOMPANYING AREAS OF THELOCKING FLAPS INCORPORATING THE OUTER UPPER CORNERS AND THE OUTER LOWERCORNERS AND HAVING THEIR OUTER EDGES IN ALIGNMENT JUNCTURE WITH THEOUTER EDGES OF SAID OUTER UPPER AND LOWER CORNERS, SAID OUTER LOWERCORNERS ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED AT THEIR CREASE LINES TO BE THE BACK TOBACK POSITIONS WITH SAID LOCKING FLAPS FOR THE INSERTION OF SAID LOCKINGFLAPS INTO AND THROUGH THE LOCKING SLITS FORMED IN THE ADJACENT WALLSAND TO INTERLOCK THEREWITH AND TO COMPLETE THE SECUREMENT OF THE UPRIGHTWALLS TO ONE ANOTHER.